Stove burner



Nov. 22, 1960 J. R. WILLIAMS ETAL. 2,960,980

STOVE BURNER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 14, 1955 INVENTORJ. JOHN ROGER WILLIAMS BY JAMES S. SHUTE ATTORNEY.

1950 J. R. WILLIAMS EI'AL 2,960,980

STOVE BURNER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 14, 1955 INVENTORS. JOHN ROGER WiLLIAMS JAMES S. SHUT United States Patent STOVE BURNER John Roger Williams, Ambler, and James S. Shute, Philadelphia, Pa., assignors to Selas Corporation of America, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Dec. 14, 1955, Ser. No. 553,100

Claims. (Cl. 126-39) The present invention relates to domestic ranges, and more particularly to a self-contained gas burner that can be inserted as a unit in a stove, and to the construction of such a burner.

The present burner is of the type disclosed in Williams application Serial No. 418,858, filed March 26, 1954; now Patent No. 2,870,829, but contains several improvements thereover in the manner of mounting the burner in a stove, and the construction of the gas and air supply means to the burner. There is also disclosed herein a different type of ignition for the burner.

It is an object of the invention to provide a stove burner that can be inserted into and removed from a range as a unit and with a minimum of effort. It is a further object of the invention to provide a stove burner which is easily assembled from readily shaped and inexpensive materials.

According to the present invention the stove is provided with fixed provisions for supplying fuel to the burner and exhausting products of combustion therefrom. The burner, which is assembled as a unit, has fuel supply and exhaust provisions which mate with those on the stove. When the burner is placed in position the mating parts are connected and the burner is ready for operation. The various metal parts of the burner are made from easily shaped sheet metal or screw machine parts that can be quickly and economically assembled.

The various features of novelty which characterize our invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, however, its advantages and specific objects attained with its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which we have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a section view through the burner.

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the burner, partially in section, taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is an elevation taken from the right of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a supporting surface 1, which may be part of a stove such as the top of the oven or which may be the lower part of a casing for a counter stove. Spaced above the surface 1 is a sheet of metal 2 forming the top plate of the stove. This plate is provided with an opening 3 in which the burner 4 is located.

The burner itself includes a base in the form of an annular exhaust chamber 5, which may be made of a pair of sheet metal members 6 and 7 that are suitably shaped and then assembled and fastened together as by spot welding into a single unit. It is noted that the upper edge of the member 7 has a radially extending flange 8. The top member 6 is provided with a plurality of openings 9 that are spaced around and adjacent to the periphery thereof, while the member 7 is provided with a plurality of openings 11 that are spaced around the outer wall thereof. The purpose of these openings will be indicated below. An exhaust opening is also provided in member 7 at the bottom of chamber 5 behind the parts shown in Fig. 2.

The upper surface of member 6 acts as a support for an annular ceramic disc 12, the central opening of which is substantially coextensive in size with the opening in the annular chamber. This disc is also provided with a plurality of openings 14 spaced around the periphery thereof which are axially aligned with the openings 9. Disc 12 forms the lower wall of a flat circular combustion chamber, the upper wall of which is a disc '15 of some material that is transparent to infra-red rays. This material is preferably a glass of the Vycor type which is transparent and capable of withstanding temperatures in the neighborhood of 1800" Fahrenheit. The outer edge of disc 15 rests upon the flange 8.

Gas and combustion air are supplied to the combustion chamber through the center opening 13 of the refractory disc. To this end there is provided an elongated annular chamber 16 that is connected with a horizontal chamber 17, positioned eccentrically thereoif. These chambers may be formed of a plurality of parts including an inner tube 18 and an outer tube 19, an upper plate 21 and a lower plate 22, each plate having a flange 23 thereon. The four parts forming the chambers are shown as being stamped out of sheet metal and are suitably brazed together to make a unitary structure. Gas and primary air are introduced into chamber 17 through a Venturi 24 that is a screw machine part, and which is suitably fastened in place, as by spinning, to the lower plate 22. This mixture of gas and primary air is discharged into the combustion chamber through a plurality of axial ports 25 in the upper end of chamber 16.

The gas supplying assembly is fastened to the part 7 by means including a plurality of studs 26 that are attached to and project downwardly from part 7 and screws 27 which extend through the flanges 23 of the metal forming chamber 17 into the studs. The arrangement is such that chamber 16 is concentric with chamber 5 and opening 13 in ceramic plate '12, with the top of chamber 16 having ports 25 located adjacent to the bottom of the ceramic plate. A plurality of projections 28 may be provided in the central opening of chamber 5 in order to insure that chamber 16 is concentric therewith, and to insure that there is an air space of even thickness around the exterior of the chamber.

The ignition of gas flowing into the combustion chamber is accomplished by a spark. To this end there is provided an electrode 29, the outer end of which is spaced slightly from the upper end of cylinder 19 so that a spark can jump between the electrode and cylinder and thus ignite gas flowing from ports 25. The electrode is mounted on the upper end of a stem 31 that extends downwardly through the chamber 5 to project below the burner. Collars 32 of insulating material are provided in order to insulate the stem and electrode from the remainder of the burner. The stem is held in position by nut 33. The ceramic disc 12 is provided with an undercut portion in which the electrode is received. This disc is positioned on part 6 so that the holes 14 will be aligned with holes 9 and the undercut portion will fall over the electrode. To this end a locating stud 34 extends upwardly from the part 6 and is received in a suitable opening in the bottom of the disc.

Means are provided on the supporting surface 1 to engage various parts of the burner when it is disposed in the opening of the top plate, so that merely lowering the burner in place will make the necessary connections. To

this end a gas supply fixture 35 is mounted on surface 1 insuch a position that it is received by the lower end of Venturi 24. This fixture is connected to a gas supply pipe 36, the flow in which is regulated by a valve (not shown). Gas being discharged from the fixture 35 into Venturi 24 aspirates air along with it to produce a rich mixture of gas in the chambers 17 and 16. The richness of'this mixture can be varied by rotating a cup 37 that is placed on the lower end of the Venturi, and through which the upper or discharge end of fixture 35 extends. An inspection of Fig. 3 will show that the sides of the cup and the Venturi each have a pair of slots. As the cup is rotated relative to the Venturi, the size of these slots and therefore the amount of air admitted can be adjusted. The cup is held in its adjusted position by a screw 38.

The opening which is provided in the bottom of plate 7 leading to exhaust chamber receives vertically extending duct 39. This duct leads into a'box 41 on surface 1 that also is joined with a horizontal duct 42 which is conneoted with the intake of a suitable exhaust fan (not shown), such as is provided in the above-mentioned Williams application.

The lower end of stem 31 engages a contact 43 that is received in a recess 44 in a block of insulating material 45. This block is located in a fixed position relative to surface 1 by means of a support 46 that is mounted on the surface.

' Contact 43 is biased upwardly into engagement with the end of stem 31 by means of a spring 47, the lower end of which rests on a cap 48 of a screw 49 extending downwardly through the bottom of recess 44. The lower end'of this screw is provided with a pair of nuts 51 that receive between them a terminal 52 on the end ofa wire 53. This wire extends to any suitable source of supply for an electric current that will produce a spark. The other contact for the circuit that produces the spark can be the stove proper which is grounded in the usual fashion.

When the burner is placed in position the flange 8 can rest against the edge of top plate 2 around the opening 3 provided for it. It is preferred, however, to bend the edge of the opening 3 upwardly as indicated at 54 in order to prevent any food that has been spilled onthe stove top from running into the opening. Therefore a sheet metal ring 55 is spot-welded to the lower surface of the top plate and the inner edge of this ring supports flange 8 of the burner. The space between the top plate and the outer edge of the burner cover 15 is bridged by a trim ring 56 that engages the edge of the cover and the top plate radially outward of portion 54. This ring is held in place by means of hooks 57 that project downwardly therefrom through openings in ring 55. Rotation of the ring'will cause the ends of the hook to grip the plate with a bayonet type joint to thereby hold the burner rigidly in position.

The burner is assembled in the stove by lowering it through the opening 3 until the flange 8 engages ring 55. When this occurs the lower end of Venturi 24 will have received the gas jet 35, stem 31 will have engaged contact 43, and duct 39 will have entered the opening provided therefor in the bottom of part 7. The burner is now ready for operation.

To start the burner a valve in gas line 36 is opened. Simultaneously, and in a conventional manner, the valve stem can be used to close a switch to energize the spark mechanism for igniting the gas flowing from parts 25, and to energize a motor driven fan which applies suction to duct 42. Gasdischarged through the ports 25 is caused to on both sides with air which is induced through the center of tube 18 and around the outside tube 19. Thus there is obtained immediately upon exit of the gas from the ports a thorough mixing of the gas and air so that combustion can promptly takeplace; The gas burns s inqvs ia pu ward r f hec r disc to thereby heat the surface of this disc to incandescence. Radiant heat is projected through the plate 15 to a cooking utensil which is placed thereon. The action of the fan through the exhaust ducts draws the products of combustion downwardly into chamber 5 and from this chamber to a point of exhaust which may either be in the room where the stove is located or through a suitable duct to the erterior of the room. Additional air drawn into chamber 5 through the ports 11 serves to reduce the temperature of the products of combustion so that they will be lowered to a value where they cannot harm the fan. Air flowing into holes 11 keeps the space between surface 1 and top plate 2 ventilated so the top cannot be heated to an objectional extent.

From the above description it will be seen that there is provided a self-contained burner unit which is immediately operative when it has been placed in position on the stove in which it is used. Furthermore this burner is made of easily manufactured and readily assembled parts. The method of introducing air and gas is accurately controlled as a result of the'manufacture and assembly of the burner element so that eflicient combustion will take place.

while in accordance with the provisions of the statutes, we have illustrated and described the best form of embodiment of our invention now known to us it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made in the form of the apparatus disclosed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims, and that in some cases certain features of our invention may be used to advantage without a corresponding use of other features.

What is claimed is:

1. In a gas range, the combination of a self-contained burner unit having a combustion chamber including a top and a bottom, an exhaust opening for products of combustion in said bottom, an inlet for gas extending downwardly below said bottom, ignition means for the burner having a portion thereof in said chamber and a portion extending downwardly from said bottom, a top plate for said range, said plate having an opening therein to receive said burner, supporting structure below said plate, an exhaust duct attached to and extending upwardly from said structure, a gas supply member attached to and extending upwardly from said structure, supply means for said ignition means attached to and extending upwardly from said structure, said duct, member and supply means being so positioned on said structure that when said burner is moved vertically downward into said plate opening said duct is received by said exhaust opening, said gas inlet receives said gas supply member and said portion of said ignition means engages said supply means, and means to hold said burner in position in the opening of said plate.

2. In a gas range, the combination of a self-contained burner having a downwardly extending gas inlet, an exhaust opening in the bottom thereof and an electrode projecting from the lower surface thereof, a top plate for said stove having an opening therein, means to mount and to fasten said burner in said opening with the top thereof substantially flush with said plate, said stove having a fixed gas supply member, a fixed exhaust duct and an electric contact fixed thereto, the locations thereof being such that when said burner is in place in said top plate said inlet is in communication with said member, said exhaust opening receives said duct, and said electrode is in engagement with said contact.

3. In a kitchen range having a supporting structure and a top plate with an opening therein spaced above said structure, a, gas burner received in said opening and supported by said plate, said gas burner being provided with means forming an annular exhaust chamber and a substantially flat combustion chamber thereabove, means forming exhaust ports extending between said combustion chamber and said exhaust chamber, said exhaust chamber being provided in its lower surface with an outlet, means attached to said burner and extending into said combustion chamber from below to supply fuel thereto, means including a contact extending below said burner to ignite the fuel, said supporting Structure having rigidly attached thereto an exhaust duct extending upwardly into said outlet, a fuel supply pipe extending upwardly and cooperating with said fuel supply means and a contact extending upwardly and engaging said first contact, whereby when said burner is lowered into the opening in said top plate the fuel supply, exhaust and ignition portions thereof will be connected with complementary portions on said supporting plate, and means to fasten said burner to said plate.

4. In a kitchen range, the combination of a supporting structure and a top plate provided with an opening therein, a self contained burner received in said opening and supported by said plate, said burner having means forming a substantially enclosed combustion chamber therein, means projecting below said burner through which fuel is supplied to said chamber, means at the bottom of said burner through which products of combustion can be removed from said chamber, means extending from the bottom of said burner to ignite the fuel, a gas supply pipe on said structure and projecting upwardly therefrom cooperating with said fuel supply means, an exhaust duct extending upwardly from said structure cooperating with said means through which products of combustion are removed, and an electrical connection extending upwardly from said structure engaging said ignition means whereby lowering said burner into said opening will connect said burner for operation of the fuel supply, exhaust and ignition provisions.

5. In a kitchen range, the combination of a self contained burner unit including means forming a substantially enclosed combustion chamber one wall of which comprises a surface upon which objects to be heated are placed, means extending from below the burner through which fuel is supplied to said chamber, means below said chamber through which products of combustion are withdrawn and means extending into said chamber from below to ignite the fuel, a top plate for the stove having an opening therein upon the periphery of which said burner is supported with said wall substantially fiush with said top plate, a supporting structure spaced below said top plate and burner, a fuel supply pipe on said structure extending upwardly into cooperative relationship with said fuel supply means, an exhaust duct on said structure engaging said means through which products of combustion are withdrawn, and means extending upwardly from said supporting plate to energize said igniting means whereby when said burner unit is lowered into said opening connections will be made thereto for placing said burner unit in operating condition, and means to fasten said burner in said opening of said top plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 572,486 Horn Dec. 1, 1896 1,144,785 Rector June 29, 1915 1,640,861 Thompson Aug. 30, 1927 1,735,654 ODowd Nov. 12, 1929 2,241,661 Furlong May 13, 1941 2,398,611 Beggs Apr. 16, 1946 2,526,748 Hill Oct. 24, 1950 2,570,554 Henwood Oct. 9, 1951 2,649,850 Schlenk et al. Aug. 25, 1953 2,759,471 Crone Aug. 21, 1956 2,847,988 Hess Aug. 19, 1958 2,870,828 Hess Jan. 27, 1959 2,870,829 Williams Jan. 27, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 796,780 France Ian. 27, 1936 

